Egypt: Morsi-appointed Islamist governor of ancient city of Luxor resigns

CAIRO – An Islamist from a radical group named by President Mohammed Morsi as governor of Egypt's ancient city of Luxor has resigned.

Adel el-Khayat is a member of the Construction and Development party, the political arm of Gamaa Islamiya, which waged an armed insurgency against the state starting in 1992 and attacked police, Coptic Christians and tourists.

In November 1997, gunmen from the group attacked tourists at Luxor's 3,400-year-old Hatshepsut Temple, killing 58. More than 1,200 people died in the campaign of violence by the group and another militant organization, Islamic Jihad.

In a brief statement read at a news conference on Sunday, el-Khayat said he decided to resign to prevent bloodshed, a reference to clashes between his supporters and opponents outside the governor's office in Luxor.